He was just turning his back to the door
as the girl came in. She uttered a little exclamation of surprise,
Pista turned quickly and--Panna started back with a sudden shriek, the
flask fell shattered on the floor, and she covered her face with both
hands. It was her first sight of the young man's horribly disfigured
countenance without a bandage.
Pista went up to the trembling girl and said mournfully: "I frightened
you, but it must have happened some day. I felt just as you do now
when, a week ago, I made my mother hand me a looking-glass for the
first time. I see that it will be best for me to become a Capuchin
monk, henceforth I must give up appearing before the eyes of girls."
Panna hastily let her hands fall, gazed full at him with her sparkling
black eyes, and said gently:
"You always have girls in your head. Must you please them all?
Wouldn't one satisfy you?"
"Why, of course, but the one must be had first," replied Pista, with
forced cheerfulness.
Panna flushed crimson and made no reply; Pista looked at her in
surprise and doubt, but also remained silent, and in a few minutes the
girl went away with drooping head.
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